Joseph Banks (botanist)

Sir Joseph Banks was a renowned British botanist and naturalist in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He is best known for leading the scientific team on Captain James Cook's first Pacific voyage (1770-1771), during which they collected many plant and animal specimens. Banks helped expand European knowledge of global flora, especially in Australia and Polynesia. He also served as a prominent scientific advisor and helped establish Kew Gardens as a major center for plant research. His work significantly contributed to the fields of botany and natural history, shaping scientific understanding of the world's plant diversity.